Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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Buying Rugs For Our House

It feels like the last few months have been The Age Of Rugs. We got this one from a local outlet for our bedroom…

Cuttinglegs14

… this one from Urban Outfitters for our kitchen…

UrbanRug Toy Detail

… and just got this one from Joss & Main for our office…

 

Rug Screenshot

It was actually kind of hard to find an 100% jute rug that was 6 x 6, so when this guy came up for $89 (down from $150) we finally pulled the trigger.  Especially since Pottery Barn sells a nearly identical one for $129 down from $149 and Overstock has something similar for $115.

We had always wanted something round to soften all the angles in the room (the built in desk, the chair rail, the criss-cross chairs) and tie into the big round chandelier that we tweaked by spraying it indigo and adding a giant shade…

Shade After Vert Side

So we just measured things out on the floor to see what would work (an 8 x 8 was way too big, and a 5 x 5 was too small). Thankfully we were able to determine that a 6 x 6 would be the right size to make the room feel nice and balanced without getting in the way of our chairs (since we have to push them out to get in and out, and any large rectangular rug was always getting caught on the legs and annoying the heck out of us).

In the in interest of keeping it real, here’s what the office looked like before we cleaned Clara’s toys off the floor and organized the piles of random stuff on top of our desk:

Office1

And here’s how it all looked once we did a wee bit of cleaning before snapping a proper rug photo:

Office2

 We love that it’s “braided woven” since in our experience of owning a few natural fiber rugs, the braided ones tend to be the softest, so they’re less bushy and wire-y. Sure enough, when our new rug arrived, it was nice and soft, and thankfully it fit perfectly in the office. See, no issue with the chairs being pulled out and our new rug. Wahoo.

Office With Us In It3

So that’s the latest rug update that has gone on around here.

Office Rug5

Oh, and Burger approves:

Office Rug4

Oh, and new rug = a good excuse for a plastic animal parade.

Office Rug7

I think that shot captures how it’s nice and soft. Always a plus when it comes to jute (anyone remember that Friends episode where Joey learns French from Phoebe and says “Tout De La Fruit”? – I always want to say “Jute De La Fruit”).

Are there any other jute lovers out there? Or round-rug owners? This is our first round rug, and I have to admit, we love it. In a house full of right angles, it definitely feels kind of novel. Haha. So that’s my live-on-the-edge-tip. Be a rebel and try a round rug once in a while.

Comments

  1. KiTx says

    Ha, I’m going to have the Joey-learning-French scene in my head all day now. We moved my late grandmother’s piano to our house not long ago, and I kept yelling “Pivot! Pivot! Piv-OOOOTTTTT!” the whole time and giggling. My husband had no idea what I was talking about, so it’s nice to feel like Sherry would. =)

    Reply

  2. michelle says

    the photo of the kitchen rug shows a lamp by your front door…. lovelovelove it! I don’t remember seeing it before….

    Reply

  4. Rachel says

    Is the stencil still on the office wall? I couldn’t see it in these pictures.

    I love the rugs! Too bad my hubby likes carpet so we have carpet in all rooms (except kitchen) and I don’t get to play with rugs.

    Reply

  5. Jessica D says

    Love the wall colors with the rug, what colors are you sporting on the walls these days? I know the top is the fancy stencil work, but is the bottom still the same color in your home tour links or did you end up darkening it at some point that I’ve forgotten?

    Reply

  6. Christa says

    Hi guys! I just wanted to throw in a “I really, really, love your room changes” comment. Really. I meant to share the love when you first posted… but alas, I was too lazy. Haha!

    We have a round rug in our library and I *think* I love it.

    Reply

  7. Carla says

    I love round rugs, but over time fibers break loose and the texture roughens up on jute. Also, I’ve seen jute rugs noticeably wear down wood floors. But my main thing with your office is that huge amount of open space and your desk placing both of you with your backs to your home and front door. It’s very awkward and unhealthy. Have you ever seen a partner desk? I can see a long credenza and work space along the wall with facing desks using that middle space.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We had a free standing desk and put it everywhere (including floating and the cords were so annoying to us and completely not functional with a dog and a toddler) so this placement worked best for us. As for our experience with jute rugs, this is our fifth one and we find with rug pads our wood floors are great and they seem to wear well for us (better than some other options for dog and kid messes). I’m sure it varies by manufacturer though (we had one from Lowe’s that broke down much more than others we’ve owned).

      xo,
      s

  11. Nikki says

    Did I miss something? Your bedroom is looking so much better now with the new rug, but it seems like you also took out the high poles and moved the bedroom around? I thing I missed that post. Congrats, it looks beautiful.

    Reply

  13. Lauren says

    Do you think your Urban rug in the kitchen could be used as a rug on a covered patio/screen porch? They seem to have a lot of rugs made out of that same material that I love! (and would be the perfect colors/patterns for our porch) but I’d hate to buy something that wouldn’t last outside. It doesn’t really get wet in our porch because it’s completely enclosed except for the screened windows, but I’m looking for something outdoor friendly just in case.

    Reply

  14. Karen says

    When we moved into our new apartment there was an odd area between two closets in the living room that was almost 4 1/2 x 4 (a hard size to find a rug in)but we found a natural rug we could order to fit. Even though it was a total splurge for us (almost $100!) it was totally worth it as it hides the fact that the area of wood flooring it covers was completely scratched and the finish was almost all worn off (could have been a nice character element if the rest of the room’s floor matched). It looks great and feels so nice even though it’s made of jute.

    Love the round rug in contrast with all the straight lines in the room!

    Reply

  15. Tom Corliss says

    All of your rooms are so beautiful. I especially like the rug in your bedroom. It adds a lot of nice color and design. You guys continue to amaze me with your great style. Also great work on the landscaping projects. We got a ton of great info about all kinds of different Home and Garden Projects on our site if you want any info. http://www.homeinformationguru.com . Keep up the great work and have a good summer!

    Reply

  16. Ellen says

    Oh! I’ve got that $129 Pottery Barn rug in my shopping cart…just waiting to pull the trigger. I’m still trying to decide between 6′ and 8′ – there are pros and cons to both. Wish I’d seen this on Joss & Main, though, I’d definitely have gone for it!

    Reply

  17. Rachel says

    Question – we have a martini side table from West Elm out on our balcony that has seen better days. With all of the sunlight we get out there, the orange color has faded and I was thinking of repainting it. Do y’all have any suggestions as to which “orange” I should use, or a favorite brand of paint?

    Any input would be appreciated! I really enjoy reading your blog – y’all are so brave to do all these projects and renovations yourself!

    Thanks,
    Rachel

    Reply

  19. Theresa Rivers says

    When you guys do all of your (on-the-computer) work, do you do it in the office? I am wondering because I have a hard time sitting in a normal chair for long periods of time. I always want to cross my legs or lean back or something, and it doesn’t look like your adorable chairs will really let you do that? Of course you have laptops, so maybe the long-stretches are spent elsewhere?
    I guess that isn’t much of a rug question, I’m just nosy haha.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Those chars are actually really comfy! We bought them for the sunroom but the arms and cushion and leaning back were so comfy we decided to use them in the office. I probably sit in mine for around 10 hours a day and then take my laptop to the sofa for a few more hours at night. Dorky much? Haha.

      xo,
      s

  20. Courtney says

    Love your choice of a round rug. I would like to get a round natural fiber rug for the dining room, but I’m afraid of having to clean food and/or wine out of it. Have any incidents happen at your house?

    We have the PBarn Wool and Jute 8×10 in our living room and absolutely love it. So soft underfoot. And actually wears well in that high-traffic area.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I would scroll back through the comments for that info. We have had luck with ours with pets/kids and others with cats (and cat accidents) seem to have weighed in loving them too. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  21. Liliana says

    Really love how your bedroom looks, and the rug is great! Both my husband and I really like natural rugs, but we feel they might not be the best when having 5 dogs.

    May I ask, what materials are your rugs, and are they easy to clean? I want to start searching for a couple of area rugs and runners, but have to do some research as to what material might be best for our pet-filled home. I’d like something I can wash/rinse with the hose, but would really like something confy because I love to sit on the floor. Any suggestions? maybe Burger approved? I’d greatly appreciate it!

    ~ Liliana

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We love three types of rugs pretty much exclusively. 100% wool, 100% cotton and jute. They are all natural fibers that maintain well with just regular vacuuming and using mild soap and water for spills. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  22. Shelley says

    At first I thought you were going to say that you were moving the new rug out of your bedroom. I was thinking – no don’t do it! It really does look perfect in the bedroom and I love the new layout. The office rug looks great too!
    -Shelley

    Reply

  23. Steph says

    I have to admit when I saw that picture of you guys both in your chairs I was baffled how that picture could have been taken. Could Clara really have taken such a good picture?! Then I realized, oh right, tripods and self timers, hah!

    Reply

  24. Becky S. says

    Love it! Great choice for the office. We have one exactly like that which we bought about 6 months ago on rugsusa. It’s amazing how much visual impact a rug can have! Ours does already have a couple of snags, but it was slightly expected since we have our kitchen chairs on top of them. Oh well.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Sometimes you can poke those snags back through and it looks like new! Someone recommended using a chopstick and we have had success using a pencil! Hope it helps.

      xo,
      s

  26. Vanessa says

    I don’t know how I missed it before… but I just noticed you moved your bedroom furniture around! Love it!!

    Reply

  28. lauren says

    THANK YOU for the friends reference! Last night on Nick at Nite (which i can’t believe has Friends now!!) they were showing the episode where they all go to barbados and Ross is the keynote speaker — made me think of you guys at the haven conference!!

    Reply

  29. Chris says

    Not totally to do with today’s post, but your top photo of the new layout of the M.B. is great. I really like the new bed placement for a number of reasons you mentioned. I also think the nook area works well with that dresser. But if you ever decided you wanted it more symmetrical with the other side, could you do a quick drywall party (for the lower half only or the entire section of wall) with a built-in looking shelving unit above the dresser once it is brought forward. Sure, you’d loose a few sq. footage, but maybe it would end up being practical. Not that I think it needs the change, but in case you want to shake it up a bit down the road.

    Reply

  31. Martha says

    I love your office and am horribly jealous of your creative space. We have no need for an office, but I’d sure like a space for being creative that doesn’t involve dumping a massive amount of stuff on our guests bed. Sigh. Rug is beautiful.

    Reply

  32. Amy says

    I liked the Urban Outfitters rug in your kitchen so much (I saw it in the original post) that I ordered the blue one for our bedroom. I absolutely love it, so thank you!

    Reply

  33. Amanda says

    Where did you get that cute little bag for her plastic animals? It looks like something from Etsy but searching for plastic animal bag is turning up nothing. ;) Right we just have ours in a plain old Ziploc.

    Reply

  34. Momcat says

    Okay so when I read the first line, “The Age of Rugs” here’s what I heard in my head — “RUGS OF AGES” (“Rock of Ages” from the silly movie/play/song)!!!!

    And great, just great — now it’s gonna be stuck in my head for the rest of the day. Guess I will need to have a glass of wine tonight to wash it out! Ha!

    Reply

  37. Colleen in MA says

    We decided on a circular rug for our office too. We wanted an oriental-type rug but we have a smaller room and didn’t want to cover over our redone hardwood floors. The circular rug was cheaper than most of the rectangular options and it adds a bit of funky-ness to the room. To anyone in the Boston area, we got it at Building 19. Can’t beat them for discounted rugs.

    Reply

  39. Sara says

    Love the rug. Jute rugs just have such a nice look to them. And thanks for the “braided” tip. I’m learly about buying rugs online because I dont know how rough they’ll feel.

    But I’m mainly commenting because of your reference to one of my favorite all-time Friends moments. “Blu blah bee Claude”!

    Reply

  40. Margaret says

    I found an amazing Candice Olsen rug online. Like the one of my dreams, I knew it would be perfect for my living room. I found a local dealer who brought me a sample. I fell in love with it, I think I even hugged the sample several times and squealed! When I returned the smaple I was given the news….I wanted to get the 8×10 but since the style was discontinued they could only get the 10×13 which would have been fine size wise for my living room. I was still all perky about placing my order until the price smacked me several times in the face $2,300 + shipping. I almost burst into tears. When I got back the car where my husband was waiting he almost drove off the road when I told him the price. Sadly there is no way I can afford that and I don’t know if I’d want to spend that I kind of money on a rug even if I could since I have to purchase a rug for like everyroom in my house. So now back on the hunt for something that makes me swoon as much as this one did but for a much, much cheaper price.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yes! I meant to take a panned out shot, it looks great! Not too matchy since the table is bigger and darker but they relate nicely. Pics soon!

      xo,
      s

  42. Alison says

    Have you moved the old rug from the bedroom to the dining room yet? Interested to see how it would look!

    Reply

  43. Sabrina says

    How is that urban outfitters rug holding up? I have been wanting to order the green version and also the yellow chevron which is supposed to be made out of the same material but I am scared to order a rug online.

    Reply

  44. christina says

    Hey guys! I am going to echo all of the other folks…your new bedroom layout looks cozier and I think it makes your room look bigger.
    I have a question and thought you all might be able to help me out…our living room is in need of some pops of color. Our couch is a rich gold color and I have blacks, whites and creams in the pillows, pictures,etc. Our floors are a light oak and and walls are Bone White (cream). Any ideas are appreciated because I am stuck!!! Thanks and have fun this weekend!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I would think you can do a ton with color like yellow or orange or celery green or plum or turquoise or navy and beyond. Just see what you like!

      xo,
      s

  45. Jenn Leigh says

    It looks great! I’ve been on the watch for a similar rug for our dining room. We currently have a wool and jute rug in our living room and the poor thing sheds like crazy…and makes me crazy! Do you know if pure jute rugs do the same?

    Thanks!!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I think jute sheds less (ours don’t shed at all, but if you lay on them with a black shirt you might have small tan fibers on your shirt). Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  49. Steph says

    Thanks do much for the post, the rug looks amazing.

    You helped solve a big problem of mine. My dining room has been bugging me with our rectangle rug. I just realized a round rug is perfect! Our table is round so it’ll look awesome. Plus our house is fairly open concept so this will be a good way of separating the living area and dining from each other!

    Thanks ; D

    Reply

  50. Shareen says

    It suits the room (and apparently your lives) beautifully.

    I couldn’t help but notice that your register cover is perfectly painted – did you take it off and paint it separately or brush/roll it right on the wall? We had a few issues with ours (paint drippage and then some vents were clogged when we painted it horizontally – I think a case of too much paint).

    Also, even though I’m Canadian and we had to learn French in school (I learned to love it), when my sister and I are being francais-freaks we always pull out the “Toute-de-la-fruit” references.

    Reply

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